Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I remember some years ago when official languages were introduced into the Northwest Territories, Mr. Zoe raised the issue in Norman Wells speaking his first language, the Dogrib language, and that is something that shut the House down at that time. At

that time, it created quite an uproar and people insisted that all aboriginal languages be represented in this House.

I also remember when there was another Minister responsible for the languages program when I was an ordinary Member in this Assembly. The majority of the people in my riding speak the Chipewyan language, and because I did not speak that language was the reason the government was using for not supplying interpretation in the Chipewyan language.

But we all know that language, whether it be Chipewyan, Dogrib, North Slavey or whatever, is carried live on CKLB to our constituencies, and whenever I visit the elders in my constituency, they always talk about listening to me on the radio. It is more important that the languages service provided in this House is provided outside of this House to the ridings. That's where the people listen to it and they get some comfort in listening to it in their own language and the elders do understand Chipewyan.

So we fought to get the Chipewyan language into this House so that our elders could listen to it and understand what is going on with this House and I'd be very disappointed if we looked at taking the Chipewyan language out of this House, or any other aboriginal language. I view it as an essential service to the people of the Northwest Territories. We are all elected to serve the people of the Northwest Territories, so that is what we should continue to do. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause